The doors opened to Archer, and I could practically hear the screech of tires as eyes shifted to me. The girls at the desk gave me a quiet hello. The faces beyond turned to me. And I did the only thing I could—I straightened up, lifted my chin, and strode into the galley with all the confidence I had left.
I was so focused on keeping it together that I didn’t see Addison until I was nearly upon her office. The sight brought me to a halt, my stomach climbing up my esophagus in shock and confusion.
Addison Lane stood behind her desk in a suit of black, her hair in that stern ponytail she was partial to. But her dark eyes were ringed with dark circles, her face without a stitch of makeup, swollen from crying.
The shock that the devil not only had working tear ducts, but emotions deep enough to engage them, was total.
The utter disbelief that she was haphazardly shoving the contents of her office into boxes nearly brought me down in a faint.
Slowly, I entered our offices, my eyes locked on her. When she looked up, those eyes were hard and hurt and hot.
“Come to gloat?” She tossed an award into the box without care.
“You … you got fired?”
“What gave it away?” she snarked, dumping a stack of files on top of the award.
“What happened?”
“I did my job. I did everything they asked, and they still fired me. I was supposed to get promoted.” Her chest heaved, fanning the rage in her. “This is all your fault. You and Natasha. I never should have agreed when she came to me, but I thought it would be the thing to break you. That you’d crack, falter, and I’d be rid of you. When I pitched it to Caroline, all I had to do was say publicity, and she was in. She thought you could take it, the indestructible Lila Parker. I hoped differently. But none of us saw last night coming.” She snatched the box off her desk and dropped it on the floor with a clang and a thump. “I ended up the villain, and I’ve lost my job for it. So will Brock. It’s all in a day’s work for Natasha, but you? You ended up the hero. Lucky fucking you.”
I stood there mutely as she picked up an empty box and started throwing things in. The world tilted sideways and stuck there. Nothing made sense, and nothing was recognizable.
I’d pictured this moment a thousand times, imagining how triumphant I’d feel. But despite all she’d done, I didn’t feel vindication or spite. Only sadness and pity and a deep aversion for the woman who had played me like she had.
After a moment of me standing there like an idiot, her eyes snapped to me. “Would you mind getting the fuck out of my office? It’s bad enough that they can all see. But I can’t do this in front of you.” Her gaze moved back to her hands, which shook gently as she picked up a paperweight and pen holder. “Caroline wants to see you.”
I didn’t move, feeling like I should say something. But I couldn’t apologize, not even offer an empty I’m sorry to fill the dead space between us. I couldn’t wish her good luck, couldn’t provide even the most meaningless of well wishing. I forgave her in that moment, but I wouldn’t put either of us in the position to discuss her absolution.
We’d been humiliated enough as it was.
So I turned and walked away. Felt the eyes on me as I crossed the length of the floor to Caroline’s office. Her assistant said nothing, just gave me a nod and delivered me into Caroline’s hands.
She looked up with a smile as if nothing had happened. “I’ve got to call you back, Patrick. No, no. We’ll get it sorted out. Okay. Buh-bye.” When the phone had been returned to its cradle, she turned her full attention on me. “Please, sit.”
I did as I’d been told, folding my damp hands in my lap, back straight as a ruler.
She smiled, and for the first time, I noted how foxish the expression was on her otherwise temperate face. “I wanted to formally apologize for what happened with the show. When Addison came to me with the idea, I thought it would be excellent for the firm and for you. I had planned on moving Addison up and giving you her job once it was all said